Customer Reviews

Japanese Temari: A Colorful Spin on an Ancient Craft

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I saw this book on display at my local library and checked it out on a whim. I wanted to renew it, but someone had a "hold" on it, so here I am at Amazon because I had to have my own copy! I had never seen or heard of Temari and now I am hooked. This book is beautiful and the intructions are clear enough for a complete beginner like me. The pages are durable and the book lays flat for easy access. I just finished my 7th ball and my sister and daughter made their own balls when they saw mine. I enthousiastically recommend this book, but prepare to be addicted.

The needlework art of Japanese handballs is a craft that goes back centuries. All that is required is a needle and a batch of colorful embroidery threads -- and Barbara Suess' profusely illustrated, step-by-step instruction manual "Japanese Temari: A Colorful Spin On An Ancient Craft". A consummate master of this distinctively Japanese needlecraft, Barbara shares the secrets to creating twenty-five different temari designs -- each one showcased with full color photography. These are needlecraft creations that are perfect 'carry-along projects' that result in appreciated gifts and lovely home-decor interior design accents with a unique Japanese flavor. From ball-prep basics, to simple designs that can be accomplished in a couple of hours, to complex and intricate designs that demonstrate a true mastery of this unusual needlecraft project, "Japanese Temari" is a welcome, unusual, and thoroughly 'user friendly' addition to personal and community library Needlecraft reference collections.

This is a great book for the novice stitcher as well as the experienced one. Barb's directions are clear and easy to follow. Her sidebar comments about Temari are what set this book apart from the rest. Her passion for this art comes through with every word.

I am a needleart student, teacher, and designer. If you are a student wanting to learn the art of temari at any level or wanting to teach temari; this book is for you. It has clear concise information, beautiful photos of the temari, clear instructions with easy to understand diagrams, and a class outline with suggest learning order. There are instructions for right or left handed stitchers. This book will be a wonderful addition to any needlework or temari art library. This book is a must for any temari ball enthusiast at whatever level you are stitching.

I love this book! Having looked at many temari books, I think I can safely say that this would be the easiest book to learn from. The author has excellent and clear instructions, which she has carefully organized through a series of projects that build up skills in sequence. The patterns are gorgeous. Further, the book has many nice details, such as beautiful pictures and haiku.

This is a BEAUTIFUL temari book! For folks new to the art of temari this book is a complete introduction. For temari artists it is great inspiration! The temari shown are beautifully stitched. The photos are excellent. The directions are easy to follow. Give it a try and be prepared to be addicted to Temari.

I've been stitching temari, as well as other needle crafts for years. This is by far one of the loveliest instructional books I've ever read. The instructions are clear and concise, good for beginners and well as experienced stitchers. It is also lovely as a coffee table book...great photos and water color art.

I waited for this book to be published for months and I wasn't disappointed! Barb gives detailed, clear instructions and drawings. Gorgeous pictures that are close-up to see the stitching. The book is of exceptional quality and very inspirational. A must have book for both the novice and the experienced temari stitcher.

This is an outstanding book for anyone interested in making temari. Beginners will enjoy the easy to follow patterns and clear photos. More advanced stitchers will become reacquainted with the beauty and versatility of simpler designs. It is a book that everyone will enjoy working with and is a great addition to anyone's temari library.

As an absolute beginner I made my first ever Temari ball in just under three hours with Barbara's very clear and easy to follow instructions. I can hardly wait until I have some spare time to start the next ball; the balls described in the book are going from easy to more difficult, with "skill builders" coming with every new design. A book definitely worth having!!